Hoylake is currently seeing some significant construction projects at the Kings Gap Hotel and the forthcoming Royal Hilbre Hotel & Spa on Meols Drive. But there are a few developments for which progress has either stalled or is likely to never happen. Public opinion will be certainly divided on some of the projects of course. Here’s a list of the ones that spring to mind:
The Promenade
Back in 2008 I published an item about the proposed plans for the Hoylake Waterfront Regeneration. The outline plans came from Wirral Council and proposed a significant regeneration of the promenade from Kings Gap at one end to Bennets Lane at the other.
Whilst the paving along the promenade could do with some attention at least, the council plans are much more advanced and included something called the Meols Linear Park that would be located on the grass either side of Roman Road.
The scheme, which was subject to funding and consultation, also indicated that the public space adjacent to the new lifeboat station would become a focal point. It could be argued that the large, rectangular expanse of grass, offering views of Hilbre Island and Wales is very much underutilised. Whilst the area could be used for playing on, sitting on, etc during the summer there are numerous, small pieces of broken glass that could easily cause injury.
What is the likelihood of this multi-million pound scheme receiving outside funding in the current economic climate?
Wirral Golf Resort
The Wirral Golf Resort is an ambitious plan for a 333-acre golf course and hotel complex for Hoylake, located on the site of the Hoylake Municipal golf course. The long standing plans were presented at the annual, world property convention called MIPIM in Cannes, March 2008. The proposals included a signature golf course, 5 star hotel with restaurant, health, leisure and conference facilities and a spa. Prior to investing in a project in Scotland, property tycoon Donald Trump was rumoured to be interested in the project.
One of non-financial issues for the project is public access. It would need to be decided if the main access route was from Hoylake and therefore over the railway crossing or whether a new road from Frankby or Newton would be needed.
Again, progress on this scheme is far from certain.
Pebbles Cafe
The proposed development of the Pebbles Cafe at the derelict toilet block on North Parade is one that readers of HoylakeJunction.com regularly ask about. I understand that all planning permission requirements have been met but the development has not yet commenced. The sign on the building originally indicated a completion date of spring 2010 – that was subsequently amended to spring 2011 but that evidently isn’t going to be the case.
The proposed cafe, the plans for which indicate a rear decking extension would certainly remove the eye-sore that is currently there.
Whilst the plans for the forthcoming lifeboat museum are yet to be made public, there could possibly be a cafe in that scheme. If so, would that mean that the Pebbles scheme is less likely to happen anyway?
Hoose Court Demolition
Plans for the demolition of the Market Street facing block at Hoose Court were submitted in 2009 and I published an article about the plans back in September 2009. The building is still there today of course, presumably lying empty?
Town Square at The Quadrant
Somewhere within the Wirral Council website is a document that outlines a proposal for a revamp of the area between Hoylake train station and The Quadrant (send me the link please if you find it). From memory, the area would be largely pedestrianised and would become a potential town square area. Again from memory, Network Rail have been approached about part-funding the project.
Potential Developments
Wirral Council have £100,000 to invest in Hoylake and West Kirby and there’s a write-up about the suggested schemes from local organisations on this facebook page setup by Hoylake Village Life (their website).
A subsea, high voltage cable could be coming ashore at the end of Meols Parade. There’s more information about the controversial proposal on my little Meols blog. Make sure to follow the steps to register any concerns that you might have about the plans.
I did look at the proposed route of the cable where it goes between Scotland and N Ireland. I remember that lots of WWII ammo was dumped in a deep trench at this location. (Google “Beaufort’s Dyke” for some disturbing info). I followed the link on the Meols blog and asked if this dumping had been considered, and received the promt answer copied below.
“We have considered munitions risk along the entire cable route. We are aware of the disused Beaufort?s Dyke munitions disposal area in the North Channel, and that munitions have previously been disposed both within and outside of this area. The route has been designed to avoid the key areas where munitions contamination is known to be present.
This issue will be fully assessed in the Environmental Appraisal, and survey data will also be assessed to identify munitions contamination
along the survey route, and avoid if appropriate. The project will
be taking specialist advice as to specific measures to be taken to ensure that risks associated with seabed munitions are effectively managed.”
Don’t forget the possible ‘ compensation’ . the Shell oil pipe-line from Anglesey to Stanlow paid for two indoor swimming pool / leisure centres on Anglesey .
I think that if any of the ‘stalled’ plans for Hoylake ever get under way, it could only be good. The suggestions re a Town Square were originally put forward in the run up to the internatinal Golf tpurnament and unfortunately came to nothing. A Town Square site is very appealing for such a development.
Does not the plans for the new proposed golf course etc clash with the proposal for the building of 62 new homes in that area of Carr Lane?
Again I think that any development/improvement of the promenade area is very desirable and would bring about an improvement to the sea front and hopefully bring more visitors to the town, provided of course that any such plans were sympathetic to both the area and to the people who actually live in the area.